France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby, which operates the domestic top-tier Top 14 rugby union club competition, has said it will make a decision over its future broadcast rights strategy at a meeting on December 3.
The LNR is currently considering activating a cancellation clause in its deal with pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus as it believes that it can negotiate a more lucrative rights deal, with rival pay-television broadcaster beIN Sport said to be interested in the rights.
Several clubs are believed to support ending the Canal Plus agreement, which is worth €158.5m ($215.6m) over five years, from 2011-12 to 2015-16, or €31.7m per season.
The LNR has until December 31 to consider activating its clause with Canal Plus. “A decision will be taken at the next steering committee (meeting) on December 3,” LNR president Paul Goze said, according to the Sport24.com website.